POSTCARD
Date1916
Dimensions13.7 x 8.7 cm
Object numberHF.70.1608.42 A-B
DescriptionRectangular postcard with a colourized image. There is red text in the top right corner which reads "Notre Dame Convent, Charlottetown, P.E.I". The reverse of the postcard has a hand written address on the right side for "Mr George Ling / Wellwood / Manitoba c/o S. E. Burch / Canada", with a handwritten message on the left which reads: "Sept 9th 1916 Wheatley River PEI Hello George. I received your card today and was pleased to hear from you we are pretty well on with the harvest about 2 acres to cut yet. The crops are fairly good. We are having a little rain today. I suppose Billy is as fat as a bear by this time good bye (write soon) Johnny" and a red two cent stamp with the profile of King George V.Narrative
The Notre Dame convent was established in 1857 when four nuns were brought from the Congregation of Notre Dame of Montreal to Prince Edward Island. The Congregation of Notre Dame was a non-cloistered order of sisters founded by Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys in Montreal, Quebec, who were well-known for their educational efforts. A building on the corner of Sydney and Weymouth Streets in Charlottetown was donated by Daniel Brenan, a local businessman, where the nuns operated a school for girls. By 1869, the school outgrew their space and architect John Corbett was hired to construct a new convent at 246 Sydney Street. The Notre Dame Academy was built in a Second Empire style and opened its doors July 5, 1870. Here, students attended classes in languages, art, music and bookkeeping up until 1971 when Island schools consolidated. In 1911 an annex was constructed with mansard roof mirroring the original building, in addition to dormer windows.
In 2011, the convent closed and the 26 nuns remaining at the convent were relocated. 2014 the building of the Notre Dame Academy was sold and by 2017 the Sydney Boutique Inn and Suites opened with 22 apartments and 18 boutique hotel rooms.
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